SFI protest at university: Non-bailable charges filed against leaders including state secretary

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The SFI protest against the Governor and the VC turned the Kerala University headquarters into a battlefield for three hours. SFI activists jumped over the police barricade and gate and pushed open the office door and stormed inside. Hundreds of SFI activists entered the building, including through the window. The activists nearly reached the VC's office.

SFI activists clashed with the police who tried to stop them. They struck back by grabbing the police's lathi and shield. The police used water cannons, but the activists did not back down and took over the building. Seeing that the protest was going to turn into a major clash, the police arrested and removed the SFI workers. The protest, which started at 12.30 pm, continued till 3.30 pm. Till then, the employees were trapped in the office. The police had locked the gate and set up barricades to prevent the workers from entering the premises, but the SFI workers managed to get inside by bypassing all of them. Meanwhile, the workers also tried to break the gate by hitting it with stones. There was a scuffle between the police and those who entered. Meanwhile, more workers jumped over the gate and the wall and entered the premises.

Although the police had closed the main gate of the administrative block and stationed themselves, the SFI activists pushed open the door amid an hour-long push and shove. The SFI activists rushed into the administrative block from both sides. They tried to push open the grill but were unable to do so, so they jumped into the Senate Hall from the sides. Interim VC Dr. Ciza Thomas was not in the office. Dr. Mini Kappan, who was given the charge of the registrar, was there, but she was moved to a safe place. SFI state president V. Sivaprasad said that the protest will continue. A case has been registered against 27 SFI leaders under the non-bailable section in the incident. The action is based on the university's complaint.

MV Govindan, the CPM state secretary, reached the protestors at 2 pm to extend his support. He said that the RSS agenda will not be allowed to be implemented in universities and that the protest will continue strongly. He also accused the VC of taking the wrong stand.